While you are making your decision, read all you can on classroom managment, collaborative and cooperative learning structures, and Inclusion.  These are the areas my college students are telling me are really questioned when they go on interviews.  Be familiar with the states Curriculum Standards - you can access them on their state Department of Education sites.  Tates "Shouting Won't Grow Dendrites" and Jensen's "Super Teaching - fourth edition" are quick, yet extremely useful books.

Good luck!

thanks for the advice. 

Molly, I do know about those listed, but I will make sure I am up to date on those subjects.  That way I am ready if called for an interview.

Rebecca, I did call one couny in North Carolina and they seemed to echo the same sentiment.  They said they would be repositioning some positions first, due to budget cuts, but to get the application in and ready for when they post the positions. 

I'm not a teacher, but I'm a husband of one, band teacher.  Instead of urban try going the other way and apply at rural schools.  My wife tried and tried to break through in a metropilitian area.  Finally, she applied at a school district that has 400 students total, and got hired. We relocated for that one.

I will warn you though there is not a nastier politician than a small town school board member.  We're moving again this summer because of some stuff going on in the school board, but we're off to another small town.

Not only that your paycheck goes a lot further!!!